Matthew Peca, Vasilevskiy, and Tye McGinn were the game's three stars. Peca, playing in his first game in a little over a month due to injury, had 1 goal and 1 assist in the First Period alone. I don't want to overplay Peca like he's the second coming, but he's the type of player that Syracuse doesn't have much of: a skilled playmaking centerman. They've got lots of grit, but not guys that are creators who put pressure on the opposing defense. That's why Peca's so important to Syracuse and why I have a sneaking suspicion their nosedive over the last month and Peca's injury were highly related.

During his first shift back from injury, Matthew Peca found the back of the net.

Peca was one of multiple players who contributed in their return to the Syracuse lineup, as the Crunch netted three first-period goals and hung on for a 3-2 win over the Binghamton Senators at the Onondaga County War Memorial Friday.

“I think any time you get a guy that’s a regular in the lineup back, it’s a spark and brings some energy,” said Crunch defenseman Slater Koekkoek. “I thought we had that tonight.”

One season after piling up a career-high 29 goals, the Syracuse Crunch forward realized his role has has shifted away from being the main triggerman on the ice. Over the last month Gourde has found chemistry with Tanner Richard and Mike Blunden on the first line, and has used his speed to consistently create scoring opportunities.

Gourde may not be on pace for another 29-goal season, but he is pleased someone is scoring them.

“I’m trying to go to the net and do the right thing,” said Gourde, who has seven goals and 22 assists in 48 games this season. “Right now it’s not going in, but I have to keep working on it. Right now (Blunden) is getting the goals and I’m happy.”

The Crunch made a bold move with a little less than five minutes remaining.

Down by three goals and needing standing points to stay in the playoff picture, Syracuse head coach Rob Zettler pulled goalie Kristers Gudlevskis for an extra attacker. The tactic went awry a little more than a minute later, as the Americans’ Dan Catenacci scored into the empty net to seal Rochester’s 6-2 win over Syracuse at the Onondaga County War Memorial Saturday.

With the loss, the Crunch have dropped 11 out of their last 13 contests.

“We were desperate,” Zettler said. “We had to find a way to try and make something happen, and try and score a goal. We were down by three.”

The Crunch’s power play struck three times and the penalty kill held the Comets to one 5-on-3 marker, as Syracuse topped Utica, 5-4, at the Onondaga County War Memorial on Friday. The Crunch had lost nine straight coming into the contest.

“I expected our penalty kill to get us out of this slump,” Crunch head coach Rob Zettler said. “Before tonight, we hadn’t given up a 5-on-5 goal in three games. That’s a big deal. We needed our PK to come up big. That’s what we talked about and they did. They came up big for us tonight.”

Despite holding a 2-1 lead for more than 49 minutes, the Syracuse Crunch couldn’t hold on.

The IceCaps netted the equalizer on a power play with 2:34 remaining in regulation — and after both teams couldn’t capitalize on the man-advantage in overtime — St. John’s pulled out the 3-2 win over Syracuse in the fifth round of the shootout at the Onondaga County War Memorial Wednesday.

The Crunch has dropped nine straight.

“I thought we played OK and I thought we were in control of the game,” said Crunch head coach Rob Zettler. “It was a 2-1 hockey game and we have a gaffe. It is what it is. … It just seems to be the way it’s going right now. We need to find a way to keep working hard and get out of this thing we’re in.”

After participating in training camp with the Syracuse Crunch, the rookie forward began the season in the ECHL with Greenville. Hart was reassigned back to Syracuse and returned to Greenville three more times in the first three months of the season.

Called back up to the Crunch on Jan. 9 when the team was dealing with rash of injuries, Hart has taken advantage of the opportunity and earned a regular spot in the lineup.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries in the last couple months, and other guys have had to step up,” Hart said. “That’s given me an opportunity. You hate to see guys go down, but it gives other guys a chance. I’m just trying to make the most of the situation.”